X-ray system



Oct. 6, 1931.

G. SPIEGLER ET AL Y Filed June l?, 19150 X-RAY SYSTEM s sheetssheet 1Q Oct.v 6, 1931. G. SPIEGLER ET 4M.L

' x-RAY SYSTEM Filed June 17, 1950 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lfO 'Oct 6, 1931. G. SPIEGLER 5T`AL l 1,826,579

X-RAY SYSTEM FledJune 1'7, 19250 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 l e k Patented Oct. 6, 1931 GOTTFRIED SPIEGLER .AND FERDINAND BGLER, OF V'IENNA, .AUSTRIA X-RAY SYSTEM Application led .Tune 17, 1930, Serial No. 461,774, and in Austria March 16, 1929.

Our invention relates to improvements in X-ray systems. In the operation of X-ray systems the attendant must always exactly know the intensity of the current flowing through the tube when examining or treating a patient or when taking a photograph, because the patient and the physician are endangered `by excessive current intensity and the system can be injured by high currents. lo ascertained from the luminosity of the screen,

which however is unsatisfactory because the increase in the luminosity of the screen caused by an increase of the intensity of the current may be compensatedI by a loss in the voltage thereof.

The examination of the current intensity by means of a milli-ammeter is not reliable and itis objectionable because it is necessary to illuminate the milli-ammeter and it is not desirable to trouble the eyes of the patient by foreign light. Further, it is Adesirable to control the dose of the X-ray treatmnt and the total eiect of the tube.

The object of the improvements is to provide a system in which acoustic signalling means are provided for indicating the variations of the intensity of the current, so that the work of the physician is not interfered with by the observation of visual indicating means. acoustic means are provided for indicating the desired dose of milliampere-minutes applied to the patient and the total effect developed by the tube. Further, a counting device is provided for registering the number of the operations of the tube and the accidental supply of a strong current to the high voltage circuit. For the purpose of tion several examples embodying the same have been shown in the accompanying drawings in which the same reference characters have been used in all the views to indicate corresponding parts. In said drawings Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a. system in which acoustic means are provided for indi eating the intensity of the current and the dose of energ applied to the patient and in which in ad ition means are provided for Heretofore the current intensity has been Further, in our improved .system explaining the invenregistering the total effect delivered by the tu e, c

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the electrical meter used in the system shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is an elevation showing means vfor indicating the dose of energy applied to the patient,

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4,

Fig. Gis a bottom view showing an adjustable contact of the device illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4,

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation taken on the 'line 7 7 of Fig. 6,

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation on an enlarged scale showing the coupling means of the device illustrated in Fig. i4,

Fig. 9 is a sectional pla'n view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 9 9 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 10 is a diagram showing a modification in which the acoustic signaling means are insulated from'the high voltage circuit and the mechanism for registering the total eect of the tube is directly operated from the spindle of the electrical meter,

^ Fig. 11 is an elevation partly in section showing the electrical meter used in the system illustrated in Fig. 10,

Fig. l2 is an elevation showing the circuit makeand-break device used in the system illustrated in F ig. 10,

Fig. 13 is a diagram showing another modification of the system in which means are provided for throwing the electrical meter out of operation when the system which before was usedffor therapeutical or radiation purposes is to be used for making an exposure, and

Fig. 14 is an elevation showing the operating mechanism used in the system illustrated in Fig. 13. Y

In the system shown in Fi 1 the high voltage circuit of the tube 1 inc udes an elec- 95 trical meter 2 of any known or preferred lconstruction and having terminals 3 and 4,

a rectifier 5 and a' storage batte 6. Between the terminals of the rectifier 5 and the net there is a high voltage transformer 7.

Further, a heating transformer 8 for heating the tube 1 is connected to the net. The storage battery 6 is continuously and automatically charged by the high voltage current.

The electrical meter 2 comprises a casing 9 and a vertical spindle 10, which rotates in accordance with the intensity of the current traversing the meter. Upon the top end of the said spindle a drum 11 of insulating material is fixed which is a part of a circuit make-and-break device 12.

In the said drum a metallic contact segment 13 is embedded which covers 180o of the circumference of the drum 11. The drum 11 cooperates with two contact springs 14 and 15 connected to 'terminals 16 and 17. When rotating upon the spindle 10 the said Contact springs 14 and 15 engage alternately the insulating material of the drum 11 and the metallic segment 13 thereof.

A shunt circuit connected to the battery 6 includes the terminals 18, 19 of the operating electromagnet 2O of the counter 21 to be described hereinafter, an electric signalling bell 22 and the terminals 16 and 17 of the circuit make-and-break device 12. ln lieu of the signalling bell 22 a buzzer or sounder may y.be provided. The devices 21, 22 and 12 are energized from the battery 6. By reason of the varying velocity of the drum 11 of the circuit make-and-break device 12 the strokes of the bell 22 operated by the said current follow one another in more or less rapid succession, and therefore proportionally to the intensity of the current fiowing through the tube 1. Therefore from the more or less rapid succession of the strokes of the bell the attendant will ascertain the intensit of the current flowin through the tube. hus the attendant appying therapeutic treatment or examining a patient is able to control the current on the basis of the said acoustic signal,

so that his eyes are free for examination purposes.

The counting device 21 is connected with a clock work, and it is constructed so that it closes a Contact for operating a continuously sounding acoustic signal after the desired dose of electric energy in ampere-minutes has been applied. Within the casing 23 of the counter 21 the aforesaid electromagnet 20 is mounted -In the rear of the wall 24 of the casing 23 and a plate 25 a shaft 26 is rotatable which is intermittently rotated by the electromagnet 20. For this purpose a lever 27 is swivelled on the shaft 26 which lever carries a pawl 28 engaging in the teeth of a ratchet wheel 29 fixed to the shaft 26. The lever carries the armature 3() of the electromagnet 20 which armature is acted upon by a spring 31l fixed to the casing 23.

In axial alignment with the shaft 26 a shaft 35 is mounted in a sleeve 36 of insulating material fitted in a plate 37 of the casing 23, and the said shaft is adapted to be coupled to the shaft 26 by means of a friction clutch shown in detail in Fig. 8. As shown in the said figure the clutch comprises a disk 32 fixed to the shaft- 26 and a coupling member 33 in the form of a cap embracing the disk 32 and elastically-engaging the same, the cap 33 being fixed to a cap 34 of insulating material secured to the end of the shaft 35. Between the plates 25 and 37 the shaft 35 carries a contact disk 38 which is engaged by a contact spring 39 fixed to and insulated from the plate 37 and connected by a lead 40 with a terminal 41.

The front wall 2 of the casing 23 is formed with a circular opening 43 covered by a glass plate 44. Between the wall 42 and the plate 37 a metallic pointer 46 having a hub 45 is fixed to the shaft 35, and at its end the shaft 35 carries a button 47 of insulating material passed through a hole 48 of the glass plate 44; The'pointer 46 carries a contact spring 49 cooperating with a contact to be described hereinafter.

By means of pins 50 of insulating material a segmental contact rail 51 is fixed to the plate 37, and on the said rail a rin 52 of caoutchouc or other insulating materia is rotatable, the said ring being formed internally with a circumfcrential groove 53 engaging the rail 51. For rotating the ring 52 a Worm 55 is provided which engages in teeth 54 of the ring and which is fixed to a worin shaft 56 rotatable in a bearing 57 and in one of the side walls of the casing 23. The worin shaft carries a button 58 at its outer end.

To the ring 52 a contact piece 59 is fixed which is equipped with al contact spring 60 engaging the rail 51. The plate 37 is provided with scale marks 61 for setting the contact :piece 59 in position. On the plate 25 a pawl 62 lis mounted which engages the ratchet Wheel 29 and prevents accidental return movement thereof.

The rail 51 is connected by a lead 63 with a terminal 64 and the said terminal and the terminal 41 and an electric signalling bell 65 are included in a circuit connected in shunt with the battery 6.

On the top of the casing 23 the casing 66 of a counting device or register 67 of any known or preferred construction is mounted and the said counting device is driven by means of a Worm 68' secured to a vertical shaft 70 mounted in the wall of the casing 66 and a bearing 69 mounted` on the rear wall of the casing 23. The shaft 70 is driven from the shaft 26 through the intermediary of bevel gears 71 and 72.

By rotating the button 58 the ring 52 is rotated through the intermediary of the worm gearing 54, 55, thus setting the contact 59 into the position corresponding to the dose of milliampere-minutes to be'applied to the patient. When the electrical meter 2 is in operation Current impulses are sent through the electromagnet 20 ofthe counter 21 by means of the circuit make-and-break device 12. Thus by means of the operating mechanism 27, 28, 29 the shaft 26 is rotated inthe direction of the arrow shown in F ig. 3 and the rotary movement is transmitted by the clutch 32, 33 to the shaft 35 so that the pointer 46 is rotated in the same direction. Vhile applying the pre scribed dose, the pointer 46 is rotated so far that the contact spring 49y carried thereby engages the contact 59. Now the following circuit is closed: battery 6, terminal 64, lead 63, rail 51, contact spring 60, contact 59, contact spring 49, pointer 46, shaft- 35. disk 38, contact spring 39, lead 40, terminal 41, signalling bell 65, battery 6. By the bell 65 a continuously sounding signal is given.

By the counting mechanism or register 6 7 the total energy in milliampere-minutes flowing through the system is registered and thus said mechanism shows the life of the tube 1.

By reason of the couplingr mechanism 32, 33 the pointer 46 can be reset by means of the button 47 after each operation of the system.

In Fig. 10 We have shown a modification in which testing devices are provided which are separated from the high voltage circuit. Also in this construction the electrical meter 2 and the storage battery 6 are included in the high voltage circuit of theX-ray tube.` The said X-ray tube has not been shown in the figure. The battery 6 is continuously charged by the high voltage current in the same Way as has been described with reference to 1 to 9. The high voltage circuit includes terminals 109 and 110, the terminal 109 being connected to the X-ray tube and the terminal 110 to the rectilier.

The electrical meter 2 is constructed substantially in the same Way as the electrical meter 2 described with reference to Fig. 1. But as appears from Fig. 11 the milliampere counting device 67, which in the construction shown in Fig. 1 is operated by the counting mechanism 21, is directly coupled with the meter 2. For this purpose on the spindle 10 of vthe meter above the circuit make-andbreak drum 11 a Worm 73 is mounted for driving the milliampere counting mechanism The terminals 16 and 17 of the circuit make-and-break device 12 are connected in shunt to the battery 6. Between the terminals 16 and the'battery 6 the terminals 74 and 75 of the coil of an electromagnet 76 are provided. In lieu of the said electromagnet a solenoid may be provided.

The electromagnet 76 is mounted on the upper plate 77 of a frame 78 (Fig. 12). On the plate 77 a bearing 79 is mounted, in which the pivot bolt 80 of a lever 81, 82 is sWivelled. The arm 81 of the said lever carries the armature 83, and to the arm 82 a spring 85 is attached which is connected with its other end 84 to the plate 77. To a pivot bolt 86 carried by the arm 81 a rod 87 is jointed which carries at its bottom end a bridge 88 of linsulating material, and which is guided by means of a link 89 jointed to pivot bolts 90 and 91 carried respectively by the rod and a block secured to the plate 77.

To the bridge 88 downwardly directed contact pins 92 and 93 are fixed whichare connected by leads 94 and 95 with terminals 96 and 97. The said contact pins 92 and 93 ccioperat'e with mercury contacts 98 and 99 mounted on an 'insulating plate 100 provided on the plate 101 of the frame 78. The said. mercury contacts are connected by leads 102 and 103 to terminals 104 and 105.

The terminals 97and 105 are included in a low voltage circuit, and the said circuit also includes a battery 106 and the terminals- 18 and 19 of a counting mechanism 211 similar in construction and operation to the count` ing mechanism 21 described with reference tol Fig. 1.. The countingv mechanism 211 illustrated in Fig. 10 is modified as compared to the counting mechanism 21 illustrated in Fig. 1 in so far as it is not used for operating a. milliamperecounting mechanism 67, the said counting mechanism being directly driven by the electrical meter 2.

In the modiiication shown in Fig. 10 the signalling bell 65 is energized from the battery 106, the terminal 64 of the counting mechanism 211 beingdirectly connected with the battery 106, While the terminal 41 is connected with the battery 106 through the signalling bell 65.

The terminals 96 and 104 are included in a low voltagecircuit comprising a battery 107, and a signalling bell 108, a buzzer, a sounder, or the like. The circuit making devices 92, 98 and 93, 99 are insulated from the high volta ge circuit of the X-ray tube.

By the current impulses sent upon rotation of the circuit make-and-break device through the electromagnet 76, the battery 6 and the circuit make-andbreak device 12 the armature 83 is attracted in accordance with the breaking of the circuit of the device 12` so that the circuit making devices 92, 98 and 93, 99 controlled by the rod 87 are made operative in harmony With the said impulses. By opening and closing the circuit making device 92. 98 the signalling bell 108 is operated in the same Way as has been described with referen ce to the signalling bell 22, the frequency of the operations of the bell corresponding to the intensity of the current of the tube, thus permitting the current 0f the tube to be ascertained. By opening and closing the circuit making device 93. 99 the dosing mechahigh voltage circuit ofthe X-ray tube (not shown) includes the terminals 3 and 4 of the milliampere meter 2, which meter may be similar in constructiontothe meter 2 shown in F ig.-2 or to the meter 2 shown in Fig. 11, the meter being provided either with a circuit make-and-break device 12 or with a circuit make-and-break device 12.and a counting device 67. It desired the Vmeter 2 shown in Fig. 13 may be provided only with a counter 67, the circuit make-and-break device 12 being omitted. The high voltage circuit of the X-ray tube shown in Fig. 13 comprises terminals 111 and 112 of the coil of the solenoid 113 and a secondary battery 114 which therefore is continuously charged by the high voltage circuit. A Apowerful buzzer 115 is connected in shunt to the battery 114 to be energized thereby.

rlhe solenoid 113 is secured to the bottom side of the top plate 116 of the frame 117 (Fig. 14). In bearings 118l and 119 mounted respectively on the top plate 116 and the base plate 12() of the rame 117, a spindle 121 is axially shitable, which spindle carries the core 122 of the solenoid 113. At its top end the spindle 121 carries a laterally proliecting pin 123 engagingin a slot 124 of an operating lever 125. The said operating lever is swivelled on the shaft of a counting mechanism 127 of any known or preferred construction, the shaft 126 being rotatably mounted in brackets rising from the top plate 116. To the lever 125 a pawl 129 is ]ointed which is in engagement with a ratchet wheel 130 operating the counting mechanism 127.

Below the solenoid 113 the spindle 121 carries two bushings 131 and 132 of insulating material having bridges 133 and 134 of conductive material secured thereto, which bridges cooperate with contact springs 135, 136 and 137 138 respectively secured to and insulated from the frame 117. The contact springs 135 and 136 are connected respectively with terminals 139 and 140, and the contact springs 137 and 138 are connected with terminals 141 and 142.

When energizing the solenoid 113 the core 122 is moved upwardly carrying along the spindle 121 and operating the pawl and ratchet mechanism 129, 130 for advancing the counting mechanism 127. Further, the bridges 133 and 134 close the circuits including respectively the contact'springs 135, 136 and 137 138.

By connecting the contact springs 135, 136 by means of the bridge 133 the meter'2 shown in Fig. 13 is short-circuited, and by connecting the contact springs 137, 138 by means of the bidge 134 the signalling bell 115 is operate the solenoid 113 is energized, and the core 122 is thrown upwardly thus connecting the contact springs 135 and 136 by means of the bridge 133 and throwing the mi'lliampere meter 2 out of operation. Further, by connecting the contact springs 137 and 138 controlled by the bridge 134 the buzzer 115 -is automatically operated.

By the upward movement of the core 122 of the solenoid the registering mechanism 127 is advanced one step.

If accidentally a current of excessive intensity is supplied to the high voltage cir' cuit, the milliampere-minute meter 2 is immediately switched out of the circuit and the ldanger signal 115 is sounded.

Thus while an exposure is made and when currents of excessive intensity are accidental- 'ly supplied to the high voltage circuit the acoustic signal 115 is sounded. The counting mechanism 127 registers how often the current is switched in and how often a current of excessive energy is accidentally sup- In case of treatment or radiation the current of the tube flows through' the battery 114, the solenoid 113 and the meter 2, and the solenoid 113 is not energized. But when connecting the' device for making an exposure 

